With an ageing workforce and skills shortages growing, flooring must attract and train the next generation of installers quickly, writes John Hinde
THE flooring trade has known for some time that there’s a demographic problem heading its way as the workforce ages out.
Looking at construction as a whole, of which flooring is a part, The Construction Index, in October 2024, commented that ‘UK construction’s skill shortage has gone from bad to worse’.
And the issue is backed by data from the Office of National Statistics which has previously – in 2018, the latest data point – reported that for UK-born workers in construction, 47% of were aged 45 or over.
Some reports indicate the sector has a shortage of more than 12,000 qualified installers — about 18% of the total workforce
— again, largely due to the retirement of experienced workers at a rate faster than can be replaced by new entrants.
Flooring needs to get young workers into the sector – and fast.
There are five issues that flooring needs to tackle and understand if it stands any chance of making any headway. And it’s all about getting the young on board and developing their flooring skills.
Apprenticeships as entry points
Apprenticeships are essential to the flooring sector given that it’s faces an ongoing and growing skills problem. And it’s precisely because apprenticeships combine practical on-the-job learning with structured training that develops an apprentice’s technical competence, craftsmanship, and work ethic.
For contractors apprenticeships bring in a human resource that can be taught and moulded. Similarly, the apprentice wins by ‘earning while they learn’ – in contrast to following an academic pathway which they may not be suited for – while gaining real-world experience from day one.
Some schemes give apprentices access to nationally recognised qualifications while giving contractors access to reliable, motivated, and skilled individuals. Apprenticeships notably benefit from government support with funding for 95% of the cost (for new starters).
Critically, apprenticeships play a long-term strategic role by creating a pipeline of workers who are not only given skills to be able to install, but who also grow by learning the leadership, management, and customer service skills that they need to run successful flooring businesses.
As highlighted during National Apprenticeship Week 2026, apprenticeships are more than just a training scheme; they are an investment in the flooring industry’s future.
For employers, taking on an apprentice goes beyond filling a vacancy and finding talent. The Association of Apprentices reckons that 69% of employers reported that employing apprentices improved staff retention, and even better, 65% of apprentices stayed with the company that trained them upon completing their apprenticeship.
Being young an apprentice will bring energy, curiosity, and a willingness to adopt new technologies and sustainable practices — essential qualities as the industry moves toward eco-friendly materials and flooring. It’s the reason why firms interviewed by CFJ – Cromer Carpets and the Mosaic Restoration Company for example – over the years want to take on apprentices.
Equally, contractors that invest in training and apprenticeships strengthen their reputation, helping attract new clients who value craftsmanship and social responsibility.
